128 Journal of Agriculture. 8 Feb., 1908. 



THE ORCHARD. 



James Lang, Harcourt. 



The extreme heat experienced throughout the whole of January has 

 been very trying to the orchards. Fortunately there was a splendid rain 

 on the 27th December which gave the ground a thorough soaking; had 

 this not been the case the effect of the extreme heat on the fruit would 

 have been most disastrous. As it is, the effects have been felt in some 

 districts ; plums especially have suffered severely, large quantities being 

 scorched on the trees. Apples and pears have also suffered, but to a 

 lesser extent than the plums. 



It is astonishing how orchards that ha^•e been kept in good condition 

 by continuous scarifying have retained the moisture in the soil. One in 

 particular that has come under the notice of the writer has shown no 

 .sign of the extreme heat, the soil a few inches under the surface being 

 still moist, and the trees green and vigorous. 



Orchards that can be irrigated during the summer months have a 

 great advantage over those that cannot be so treated ; the fruit grows on 

 without a check, and the trees are also left in much better condition for 

 next year's crop. 



Gathering and marketing the fruit will occupy a good deal of the 

 time of the orchardist. As the season advances the shortness of the crop 

 becomes more apparent and good prices are likely to rule for the rest 

 of the season. 



From the accounts which have come to hand from London and Ger- 

 many, those markets are extremely bare of apples, and high prices are 

 expected to be realized when the Australian shipments arrive. Shipping 

 agents are now offering good prices for apples, 6s. 3d. per case, being 

 offered f.o.b. Melbourne. If it pays agents to offer these prices, it will 

 also pay the grower to ship on his own account. Growers who ship good 

 fruit, well packed and graded, may therefore expect to realize full \-alue 

 on all their consignments. 



Spraying for Codlin Moth will still require attention; two more 

 sprayings should be given by the end of the month. The bandages should 

 also be attended to; look over them every ten or twelve days and destroy 

 all grubs. It is no use bandaging the trees if they are not looked over 

 regularly, as it only provides more harbor for the propagation of the 

 moth. 



Citrus fruits will require constant attention by watering, as they soon 

 suffer if the soil is allowed to become dry. 



Budding should be done this month. Where the soil is dry a good 

 watering should be given a few days before budding takes place; the bark 

 V, ill then run freely and the operation will be more successful. 



Numerous complaints have been received about the ravages of the 

 green parrakeets in the orchards. They are very much worse this season 

 than usual, owing to the scarcity of their natural food. The best way to 

 deal with this pest is poisoning with strychnine. Crush the strychnine 

 crystals into a fine powder like flour ; then dust a little of it on apples 

 the parrots have partially eaten. It is the habit of these birds when they 

 have started on an apple or ipear, to go back to it again till it is finished, 

 so these are the ones that should be dusted with the strychnine. If there 

 are not enough of these get a sharp pointed stick and scarify some of the 

 good apples and dust them with the strychnine. Great caution must be 

 exercised in laying the poison especially if there are children about so that 

 no mishap can occur. 



